Coffee grinding-dosing appliance with logic unit in an extractable cartridge

Abstract

Coffee grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) having its logic unit (106) enclosed in an extractable cartridge (100a) or first cartridge, inserted and fastened in the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, creating a compact and interchangeable control unit. Said cartridge (100a) is composed of a rigid box-section longitudinal element (101) inserted into the casing (108) through an insertion opening, and of an anchoring head (102) facing outwards; the longitudinal element has at least the logic unit entirely accommodated and protected inside it, while it has connectors integrated on the exterior surface. In one embodiment, the grinding-dosing appliance is also equipped with means to weigh the ground and dispensed coffee in real time, with a load cell located inside the casing and linked to the fork, likewise accommodated inside an extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge, inserted and fastened to the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, to form a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140).

Description

D'AGOSTINICOFFEE GRINDING-DOSING APPLIANCE WITH LOGIC UNIT IN AN EXTRACTABLECARTRIDGE

[0001] This invention concerns a coffee grinding-dosing appliance with the logic unit in an extractable cartridge.Scope

[0002] The innovation finds special although not exclusive application in the industrial sector of commercial espresso coffee appliances; more generally, the invention is beneficial when integrated in any granular material grinding and dosing appliance.

[0003] In general, commercial type espresso coffee machines having removable ground coffee containers with an internal filter, conventionally called portafilters, are well known. Each filter must be filled with coffee that is ground in a specific machine that grinds the coffee and immediately doses it precisely, otherwise called a grinding-dosing appliance. In particular, said portafilter must be filled with a given quantity of ground coffee, according to the number of doses to be dispensed and the required quality; in general, either one or two doses are dispensed in commercial use, with weight of approximately 7.5 grams and 14 grams respectively, in such a way as to prepare one or two cups of espresso coffee of identical quality.

[0004] In a grinding-dosing appliance the roasted coffee beans are usually held in a conical hopper positioned above the main body of the machine, from where they are gravity fed to a grinding chamber containing opposing grinding burrs driven by an electric motor. The ground coffee is then expelled by dispensing means that convey the coffee micro-granules in such a way as to dose them and collect themD'AGOSTINI correctly in said portafilter positioned proximal to the expulsion opening, under said dispensing means.

[0005] On the market, coffee grinders of the conventional type, with manual starting and stopping of the motor that drives the grinding burrs, are well known and widely used. Conversely, electronic grinding-dosing appliances, equipped with an automatic system for control and management of the main functions, such as grinding burrs drive with dispensing of one or two doses based on a pre-set motor operation interval, set by means of buttons and a touch screen display are more widely used in the commercial field; in some cases, the most advanced appliances also incorporate an automatic weight reading system, to stop the motor when the required weight is reached, or to calibrate grinding time.

[0006] In principle, electronic type appliances function in accordance with two different types; time control, based on grinding duration, called grind by time, or weight control in real time, called grind by weight. In both cases the required coffee quantity for one or two doses is initially set by the operator: in the first case the dose corresponds to a fixed grinding duration parameter, while in the second case the dose corresponds to a fixed weight parameter, i.e. the quantity of coffee effectively dispensed, expressed in grams. In practice, all these grinding-dosing appliances offer the advantage of reducing the tasks to be performed by the operator, who must simply position the portafilter corresponding to the required dose and then select said dose to obtain the required weight or the set quantity of ground coffee with a good level of precision.

[0007] In grind by time type appliances, grinding corresponds to a fixed duration of action and can therefore be managed by the electronic control system that manages the appliance. Conversely, in grind by weight type appliances, the weight of theD'AGOSTINI ground and dispensed coffee is progressively read in real time in such a way as to stop the motor automatically when the programmed weight is reached, eventually considering a variable compensation component. From a technical standpoint it follows that a grind by weight type appliance can be extremely precise and reliable, but it must be equipped with a particular automatic weighing device, effectively integrated and interfaced with the appliance control system. For example, in such cases it is beneficial to use a modern load cell equipped with its own electronic control means easily connectible to the electronic means constituting the appliance control system.

[0008] It is also noted that in known and conventional solutions the appliance control system corresponds to a logic unit installed physically inside the appliance. The logic unit is generally fastened in a housing implemented in the appliance's load bearing casing or in the base, also called the bottom; sometimes it is fastened inside a protruding element that is incorporated on the front of the casing, to support the dispensing means in its interior and a display on the exterior, greatly facilitating connections during the assembly procedure. Conversely, an eventual weighing device is necessarily engaged with the dispensing and / or containment means in order to read a weight increase, or it is integrated in the appliance base or in the upper coffee beans hopper in order to read a weight decrease. In other known solutions the weighing device is external, being connected to the appliance with an exposed cable in the form of an added accessory, in such a way as to allow direct weighing of the portafilter or an equivalent container in the form of a conventional weighing scale. In any case, the weighing device must be connected to the appliance's logic unit or to its control means, in such a way as to manage the main appliance functions based on the reading values, and also such as to allowD'AGOSTINI subsequent data processing. Likewise, any other added functions are anyway connected to the same logic unit of the appliance.

[0009] In essence, these multifunction appliances share a hierarchical management system wherein each electronic device eventually added to or integrated in the appliance must be connected and managed as a secondary peripheral device with respect to said logic control unit that manages the appliance's main functions. Therefore, the circuit board corresponding to the electronic means to manage the appliance's main functions, namely grinding and dispensing, is conventionally known as the appliance control logic unit or logic unit. Further electronic means to manage functions and / or devices and / or accessories eventually added are, conversely, considered as specific logic units, meaning individually dedicated to the single added function, such as weighing or remote connection, being otherwise conventionally known as specific logic units.

[0010] Examining the technical and construction characteristics in greater detail, said appliance logic unit is physically composed of a main electronic circuit board, which is complete for the purposes of general appliance management and processing of the operating data, being inclusive of a processor, management programs, memories and connectors; in the electronics sector such a circuit board is also designated CPU control board complete with hardware and software. The board is usually mounted internally to the appliance, in a protected position, and it is connected to at least the motor and to a display on the front, facing outwards, to allow the operator to set the desired coffee quantity and monitor operation. In grind by weight appliances, the aforementioned logic unit must function in conjunction with the specific logic of the weighing device integrated in such appliances; to this end, there exist known and beneficial modern electronic load cells, being equippedD'AGOSTINI with specific logic for executive management of the cell, and being able to interface directly with appliance logic unit electronic circuit board in such a way that this latter it can manage grinding and dispensing in accordance with the continuous weight readings.

[0011] As with weighing, there is today a demand to add further special functions in a grinding-dispensing appliance for professional use, such as, for example, a connection with remote access for appliance control and / or external processing of its operational data. In such cases, the appliance must be equipped with further electronic means designed to implement specific ancillary functions, in conjunction with the main operation of the appliance. In practice, additional circuit boards or prefabricated modules must be fastened inside the casing or mounted on its exterior as accessories, such as antenna and connectors, which correspond to a specific logic and must be connected directly to the aforementioned main circuit board constituting the appliance's logic unit.

[0012] This invention concerns a proposal for an improved electronic coffee grinding-dosing appliance in order to facilitate installation, removal, and / or replacement of the appliance's electronic control means, also in conjunction with additional functions having specific logic, as described below.Prior art

[0013] In order to determine the state of the art field in relation to the proposed solution, a conventional search of patent literature was carried out, interrogating public records, resulting in the identification of several cases of prior art, including: DI EP3167782B1 (Oddera) D2 EP3606391B1 (Mazzer)D'AGOSTINI

[0014] DI describes an electronic grinding-dosing appliance, equipped with a weighing device with a load cell that autonomously reads the coffee dose actually dispensed after the grinding phase; the appliance's logic unit incorporates programs to calibrate the pre-set grinding time in consequence. The appliance has a main body inclusive of conventional grinding and dispensing means, with a dispensing spout that protrudes from the front; above the spout there is an added control panel that contains the logic unit in its interior and has a control display on the external control display. Conversely, the weighing device is structurally integrated in the appliance, with the loading surface pressing the load cell such as to monitor the progressive weight decrease after every dispensing operation, with motor stopped; there are two structural variants for integration of the load cell: in a first variant the load cell is mounted in the base, below the main body, while in a second variant it is mounted in the hopper coupling, above the main body.

[0015] D2 proposes an electronically controlled grinding-dosing appliance equipped with an integrated real-time weighing device, with a load cell fastened in the appliance base, inside a hollow body housing. The cell is joined to a vertical external spindle having a fork at its upper extremity, designed to support a portafilter which receives the ground coffee flowing from a conveying means. Said hollow body is structurally incorporated in the base, as one of its component parts, and it is open upwards to accept the load cell, with an added bulkhead to prevent or limit dust penetration into the interior.Drawbacks

[0016] Primarily, it was noted that modern coffee grinding-dosing appliances have electronic control and / or detection means that are individually fastened in specificD'AGOSTINI housings, inside the appliance, as in DI and D2, for example. In practice, a CPU circuit board constituting the main logic unit, or also a modern load cell with dedicated control means, must be securely integrated in the appliance; generally speaking it is mounted with fixing screws together with the associated connection means and other accessory elements or protective elements where fitted, individually fastened in specific fixing seats implemented in the base or in the loadbearing casing or in the body of the dispenser. In general, maintenance and / or replacement of the main logic unit, internal to the casing, are particularly awkward, as are those performed on a modern load cell or any other electronic device that may be integrated in the appliance. Indeed, in such cases the appliance must be dismantled or a significant number of its component parts must be removed in order to access the aforementioned electronic means; in general, it is impossible to fit them and / or remove them easily from the exterior.

[0017] Secondly, as a consequence of the first condition, it was noted that integration of the foregoing electronic means, considered either individually as the main logic unit or in combination as a multifunction system, lacks versatility for updates and obstructs the integration of new functions. For example, the addition of additional electronic means in an existing appliance that is already internally equipped with its own logic unit and its own fixing seats, significantly increases the complexity of the interfaces and management of the commands, with a high risk of malfunctions and increased difficulty of maintenance. In this context, it is widely known that said electronic means must sometimes be updated or cleaned from grinding residues or modified in their functions, or replaced. However, the foregoing operations are time consuming and awkward when said electronic means are fastened inside the appliance, because the appliance must be dismantled or partiallyD'AGOSTINI opened, or anyway a portion of its components must be removed, in order to access the interior through confined spaces, working manually with difficulty. Moreover, it is complex and costly to create the fixing seats for new circuit boards or differently shaped electronic means in an existing appliance.

[0018] For example, consider repair or replacement of a logic unit constituting a circuit board mounted frontally, inside the appliance, above the dispensing means and behind the display; in such cases at least the display must be removed in preparation, together with a front cover panel, in order to gain access with the fingers and screw driving means inside the casing and then remove the circuit board. Furthermore, consider more advanced solutions that are equipped in addition with an automatic weighing device structurally and electronically integrated inside the same appliance, in correspondence with the portafilter fork. In such cases, in order to reach the load cell and / or the circuit board of its specific control logic the entire base of the appliance must be removed together with other closing and / or support elements. Statistically, it was noted that the aforementioned maintenance or replacement tasks most often concern the appliance's logic unit; likewise, an eventual weighing device with load cell or an eventual integrated connection system for remote access, require frequent updates, checks or repairs.

[0019] Thirdly, it was noted that the aforementioned electronic means integrated in the appliance cannot be used in their current form in differently shaped appliances, since they are made time by time for a single grinding-dosing appliance and a single fixing housing. This correspondence constraint limits the development of interchangeable solutions.

[0020] Fourthly, it was noted that the electronic means integrated inside the appliance are not adequately closed and protected. For example, in weighing devicesD'AGOSTINI mounted in a housing implemented on the base of the appliance, even if equipped with an additional upper bulkhead, dust and dirt can gradually accumulate in the cavity in which the devices are inserted, with eventual malfunctions.

[0021] Furthermore, the problem is widely recognised of motor vibrations potentially interfering with operation of the aforementioned electronic means or also progressively damaging them.

[0022] Given all the above matters, professional businesses involving intensive use of coffee grinding-dosing appliances need innovative solutions capable of improving the practical operations of maintenance, removal, and replacement at least of the logic unit when it is integrated in the inside of the appliance, without having to dismantle it. Simultaneously, there are similar demands also for electronic means eventually added inside the same appliance, designed to perform specific functions in conjunction with said logic unit, such as an integrated weighing device or a connection device for remote access, for example. In particular, there is a need to solve the problem of extracting or removing and replacing said electronic means, when they are mounted in a corresponding fixing seat, it being necessary to dismantle the appliance completely or partially and then handle extremely delicate components, such as electronic circuit boards and their connectors; today, this service operation is carried out by specialised technician in a workshop. It was also noted that this problem is particularly acute in professional applications, such as bars or restaurants, because the service times are significant and result in a period of business interruption, with high costs. It is therefore desirable to adopt more convenient and reliable solutions, that allow even an inexpert operator to extract the aforementioned electronic means from the casing without damaging the components of the circuit boards, and with no risk of personal injury, with greaterD'AGOSTINI rapidity and convenience compared to known and conventional solutions. In consideration of all these matters, it is reasonable to consider the need of companies in the sector to identify innovative solutions capable of overcoming at least the problems highlighted above.Summary of the invention

[0023] These, and other aims, are achieved with this innovation according to the characteristics as at the annexed claims, solving the problems described by means of a coffee grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) that has a logic unit (106) accommodated in an extractable cartridge (100a) or first cartridge, inserted and fastened in the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, creating a compact and interchangeable control unit. Said cartridge (100a) is composed of a rigid boxsection longitudinal element (101) inserted into the casing (108) through an insertion opening, and of an anchoring head (102) facing outwards; the longitudinal element has at least the logic unit entirely accommodated and protected inside it, while it has connectors integrated on the exterior surface. In one embodiment, the grinding-dosing appliance is also equipped with means to weigh the ground and dispensed coffee in real time, with a load cell located inside the casing and linked to the fork, likewise accommodated inside an extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge, inserted and fastened to the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, to form a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140).Aims

[0024] In this manner, by means of the significant creative input the effect of which constitutes an immediate and substantial technical progress, the above drawbacks are remedied and several significant aims are achieved.D'AGOSTINI

[0025] A first aim was that of creating a modern appliance for grinding and dosing coffee in beans, that greatly facilitates operations of assembly, maintenance, and replacement of the logic unit. In particular, in the proposed solution, the logic unit is made compact and extractable from the exterior without dismantling the appliance, in the form of an autonomous and interchangeable modular element such as a cartridge that accommodates the various components inside and also includes the connections.

[0026] A second aim, consequent to the first aim, was that of making manual operations of removal and replacement of said logic unit extremely rapid and safe, even for an operator lacking expertise in electronic technologies. This characteristic is particularly beneficial in the professional sector, such as bars and restaurants, because it significantly reduces servicing times and costs incurred by interruption of business.

[0027] A third aim was that of facilitating the integration of additional electronic means individually dedicated to a specific function, in conjunction with the aforementioned logic unit, such as a weighing device or a receiver-transmitter for example, integrated in a multifunction appliance. These too are compact and extractable from the exterior without dismantling the appliance, in the form of autonomous elements that are interchangeable in the form of cartridges. More generally, installation and removal of single electronic means becomes faster, also in multifunction appliances, with said modular elements combining the respective means to function and interconnect with the appliance's logic unit.

[0028] A fourth and consequent aim was that of making the aforementioned electronic means more versatile, since they can be fitted to multiple different appliances; in this manner, the production volumes of a single model can beD'AGOSTINI increased and optimal set-up can be assured, reducing overall costs. Moreover, an existing appliance can be kept updated and upgraded in its performance simply by removing and replacing the proposed logic unit and the electronic means individually dedicated to a specific function, such as weighing. Consequently, this makes it possible to create multiple versions of the same appliance, replacing its control means from the exterior, with other control means offering different performance or features, being grouped together in an extractable cartridge of standardised shape.

[0029] A fifth aim was that of increasing the reliability and durability of the logic unit and of said electronic means individually dedicated to a specific function, being enveloped and protected in a case that is inserted into the casing from the exterior and is also cushioned at the fixing points.

[0030] A sixth aim, combined with the preceding aims, was that of grouping multiple functions and electronic means together in the same autonomous and interchangeable modular element, such as a cartridge. For example, a logic unit can be produced that is compact and integrated, internally incorporating additional functions such as a remote connection device with an antenna. In addition or as an alternative, a weighing device can be created such that incorporates not only the weight reading sensor means, but also other components of the system and / or the appliance such as, merely by way of example, one or more electronic circuit boards with management and control programs, or integrated quick-connect or standardised connectors, or also the aforementioned remote connection device equipped with an antenna. This combined solution makes it possible to extract multiple electronic means together, limiting connections and further facilitating maintenance and replacements, also with reduced space occupancy inside theD'AGOSTINI casing and a reduced risk of malfunctions. Moreover, the internal configuration of the appliance and the installation of individual components is thereby simplified, limiting the total development, tooling, and assembly costs.

[0031] Overall, an innovative appliance is proposed, wherein the electronic control means are integrated in a compact and removable modular element, with high technological contents, that can be produced with limited costs and in large quantities using modern industrial procedures.

[0032] These and other benefits will be revealed in the following detailed description of a preferred construction solution and several variants, with the aid of the annexed drawings.Contents of the drawingsFigures la and lb show a coffee grinding-dosing appliance with logic unit in an extractable cartridge, as proposed by this invention; said cartridge is shown horizontally extracted from the rear insertion housing, in the form of a partial exploded view. Respectively, figure la is an orthogonal projection of the side of the appliance without the upper coffee beans hopper, while figure lb is a frontal axonometric view of the same appliance.Figures 2a and 2b are enlarged detailed views of said logic unit in an extractable cartridge, as shown in the preceding figures.Figure 3 is a multifunction variant of the logic unit in extractable cartridge, as shown in figure 2a and combined with added electronic means, in the form of a specific logic, such as a receiver-transmitter means, for example.D'AGOSTINIFigure 4a is an axonometric view of the machine body with the logic unit in an extractable cartridge inserted from the rear, and with a weighing unit in an extractable cartridge shown extracted from its front insertion housing.Figure 4b is the axonometric exploded view, as at the preceding figure.Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a direct communication system of the offline type, for remote control of appliances not via the Internet. For example, the grinding-dosing appliance has a logic unit in a cartridge integrated at the rear and the weighing unit in a cartridge integrated at the front, as at figure 4b, where said weighing unit also incorporates a specific logic for offline connection to an espresso coffee machine and where motorised means for grind size adjustment are included.Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an offline direct communication system for remote control of appliances not via the Internet.Figures 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged views of the weighing device in cartridge, shown here in three different versions: figure 7 shows a mono-function version for weighing only, lacking the outer front panel as shown in figure 4b; figure 8 shows a multifunction version with added electronic means, as specific logic, such as a receiver-transmitter means, for example; figure 9 shows a version with further added electronic means, for example the appliance logic unit accommodated here and coupled jointly to said weighing unit, in a single extractable combined cartridge for control, weighing, and eventual specific functions.Figure 10 is an enlarged representation of a front panel of the cartridge mounted weighing unit, viewed from the interior, incorporating an RFID antenna for automatic recognition of portafilters.Practical execution of the inventionD'AGOSTINI

[0033] With reference also to the drawings (Figs. 1 - 10) and to the claims, the proposed innovation refers to a coffee grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) having independent electronic control means, designed to manage at least its main functions such as grinding and dispensing, being grouped together and protected in an extractable cartridge corresponding to the appliance's logic unit. In summary, a cartridge is proposed with integrated logic, in the form of a compact and interchangeable control unit that incorporates the electronic components internally and the connectors externally; said cartridge can be inserted and fixed in the casing from the exterior, in an easily removable manner, in the manner of a drawer that is inserted in a specific open compartment and is extracted by pulling it outwards. The proposed solution is particularly suitable for professional use, in bars and restaurants, and it makes it possible to keep the grinding-dosing appliance constantly updated and functioning correctly, in accordance with the above illustrated aims.

[0034] In principle, the grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) has a construction configuration of known type, with a machine body (107) that incorporates a rigid load-bearing casing (108) accommodating a grinding chamber with an upper coffee beans inlet opening and a front outlet opening for the ground coffee: the machine body is mounted on feet (122) designed to stand on a horizontal support surface. On the casing, in correspondence with said inlet opening there is mounted a coffee beans hopper (123), in the manner of a conventional transparent conical hopper for commercial coffee grinders. Inside the machine body there are means to grind the beans in rotation in the grinding chamber, with associated driving means. For example, provision is made for opposing disc burrs linked to an adjustment ring (109) to set burr spacing, with an electric motor (124) that is solidly connected to theD'AGOSTINI casing and that drives said burrs; the motor shaft is preferably connected to one rotating burr that rotates against the other fixed burr. There is also incorporated on the front (126) a dispenser unit (110) for the ground coffee, being connected to a grinding chamber outlet opening and being equipped with a frontal delivery pipe (111). In correspondence with the outlet of said pipe (111) and below it, there is a fork (117) for centring and supporting an espresso coffee portafilter (200), which is preferably of the type used in bars in conjunction with conventional espresso coffee machines, being for example composed of a metal cup containing a filter for one or two coffee cups, and joined to a horizontal handle (Fig. la, lb, 5). In the following technical description certain construction elements of the conventional and known type are not shown, these being anyway incorporated in the appliance; merely by way of example, see wiring looms, some fixings, or an eventual transformer.

[0035] For the purposes of the invention, the grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) has at least the logic unit (106) which is beneficially accommodated in a cartridge that can be extracted from the exterior, dedicated to controlling the main functions of the appliance. In the preferential construction configuration (10a), there is an extractable cartridge (100a) or first cartridge, being shaped in the form of a rigid and compact modular element, composed of at least a longitudinal element (101) of the box-section type, which is inserted into the casing through an insertion opening (114a), and of an anchoring head (102) conjoined to the longitudinal element (101), that covers said opening and is adherent to the casing, facing outwards. In particular, the longitudinal element (101) internally encloses and protects at least the logic unit (106) for general control of the appliance, and it has the related connectors being integrated (103) on its outer surface, for power supply and data transfer and toD'AGOSTINI connect directly to the motor and the other control means, such as a front display (112) (Fig. la, lb, 2a, 2b).

[0036] In greater detail, said longitudinal element (101) is a rigid load-bearing case, of the box section type, that can be beneficially disassembled when necessary for containment and removal of the internal components. In the preferential configuration (Figs. 2a, 2b), said longitudinal element is composed of two half-cases: one lower half-case (104a) which is open at the top in order to allow insertion of the logic unit CPU board, and is conjoined to said head (102) with a structurally continuous solution, as a tee-shaped monolithic element, and an upper half-case (104b) as a closing element. The half-cases are joined together in a removable manner, for example with interlocking mechanical fixings or clips or equivalent removable fixings (105). Likewise, merely by way of example and without limitation, the cartridge can incorporate two separate and coupled box-section elements, or two box-section elements that share a load bearing element conjoined to the head, and two covering half-cases. The same longitudinal element can therefore beneficially incorporate two box section elements, one with the logic unit CPU board and one with the electronic means associated with eventual added functions; consider, for example, an external online connection (132) with remote access for control and / or processing of telemetric data, such as consumption values or parameter settings. Said second box-section element can be pre-assembled together or added as a single element, as an accessory, in such a way as to avoid impairing operation of the logic unit when it is not present (Fig. 3).

[0037] Said head (102) is therefore solidly connected to the longitudinal element, or to a significant portion of the same. In the preferential configuration (Figs. 1 - 3) the head covers the insertion opening (114a) of the cartridge and constitutes theD'AGOSTINI element to be fastened to the casing from the exterior, for example with conventional removable mechanical fixing means such as screws or interlocking tabs or clips, not shown in the figures, that fasten at least a portion of said head (102) and / or said longitudinal element (101) to the casing (108). Alternatively, interference elements integrated in the cartridge may be used, to hold the cartridge in position, or analogous fixing means deemed to be equivalent for the purposes of the invention. Furthermore, in correspondence with said mechanical fixings there are interposed isolator means, made of a resilient and / or elastic material. The head may also consist of single fixing portions or wings with holes corresponding to the same number of holes in the casing, in proximity of the opening, without covering it completely. A solution of this type may be beneficial if the head is coupled to an external cover element or front panel; this, for example, may have an aesthetic function or also it may beneficially incorporate an external control and command display that is directly conjoined and connected to the logic unit in a single multifunction cartridge. In particular, said extractable cartridge (100a) with the logic unit (106) is inserted and fastened in the casing from the exterior; for the purposes of the invention any fixing means or system removable from the exterior, such as, for example, lateral fastening of the longitudinal element by means of screws inserted from the side, is therefore equivalent.

[0038] In principle, the external structure of the machine body (107) is defined as the casing, including at least side walls. In commercial grinding-dosing appliances, the casing (108) is generally a load-bearing shell made of metal that envelops the machine body and is therefore suitable for direct fixing from the exterior of said anchoring head (102); however, said casing may include a non-structural covering shell, in which case the anchoring head (102) of the cartridge (100a) is fixed inD'AGOSTINI correspondence with fixed points of an underlying or integrated load-bearing structure. It is therefore clarified that in this description and in the claims, by convention, the term casing (108) is construed with a broad meaning, including said side walls or also an eventual base or bottom, or an eventual upper cover, or an eventual dispenser unit or other added function in adherence to the exterior of said side walls. For example, an equivalent solution is the insertion and fixing of the cartridge (100a) in said base or bottom, where it can be inserted horizontally in the manner of a drawer, or vertically, from the bottom up, after raising and / or tipping the appliance; also equivalent is the insertion and fixing of the cartridge in a front dispenser unit with display (110, 112).

[0039] It was noted that the predetermined aims are satisfied by a cartridge type configuration of the appliance's electronic means, as illustrated and claimed hereunder. In particular, it offers an initial practical benefit that consists of the effective protection of the circuit board corresponding to the logic unit, with all its electronic components, being substantially accommodated in a rigid case that is inserted into the casing and cushioned, in such a way that ground coffee does not enter and that vibration cannot cause gradual damage. At the same time, it significantly facilitates updating, maintenance, or modification tasks and also the replacement of the appliance's entire control means, being grouped together in an interchangeable cartridge that can be easily extracted from the exterior. Furthermore, the aforementioned logic unit combined with additional circuit boards and / or electronic devices can be integrated in the same cartridge, for example to increase the available memory or to add new operating and monitoring functions, as occurs when integrating remote connection means for automatic data transmission, as described in detail hereunder.D'AGOSTINI

[0040] It was experimentally noted, in a professional grinding-dispensing appliance constructed as illustrated above, that replacing a control unit in a cartridge configuration is extremely rapid and convenient, also for an operator lacking expertise in electronics, it being sufficient to remove, from the exterior, a small number of mechanical fixings, such as screws, click-fit teeth or levers or interlocking elements or analogous quick action type means, to then extract the entire cartridge (100a) in the manner of a drawer. It is therefore possible to insert an identical cartridge (100a), since it has a standardised shape, in the form of a dedicated module for a specific housing, after connecting the internal connection cables after partially extracting them from the casing and inserting them in the related integrated connectors (103) of the cartridge (100a). Thanks to its standardised shape, it is therefore possible to insert a cartridge (100a) beneficially updated in its functions and / or programs, thereby updating a working appliance.

[0041] In the same manner as illustrated above, in order to create a modern grinding-dosing appliance (10b) of the grind by weight type, improved in accordance with the aims of the invention, provision is made to integrate in the machine body also the necessary means to weigh the ground and dispensed coffee in real time, including at least an electronic load cell (152) linked to the fork (117), in such a way as to create a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140). In particular, also said weighing means are enclosed in an analogous extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge, which is inserted and frontally fixed in the casing from the exterior, in a removable manner, using the same logic of grouping the electronic means constituting the aforementioned logic unit (100a, 106) inside a cartridge.

[0042] For this purpose, in the preferred construction solution (Figs. 4a, 4b) the appliance has the logic unit (106) in said extractable cartridge (100a) or firstD'AGOSTINI cartridge, which is functionally combined with another extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge incorporating a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140). Said first cartridge can be inserted in the casing on the rear side of the machine body (Figs. 4a, 4b, 7) of on the side or at the front proximal to the display or on the base or in another position that allows trouble-free extraction from the exterior, without obstructing coffee grinding and dispensing. The first cartridge (100a, 106) is equipped with operating programs for control and command of the appliance, in such a way as to directly manage the main functions such as grinding, and indirectly manage the secondary functions such as weighing or other added peripheral functions. This first cartridge (100a, 106) is therefore connected at least to the motor (107) and to the display (112) located on the front of the machine body (126), and it is also connected to the weighing unit of the second cartridge (100b, 140), which is integrated in correspondence with the portafilter, under the dispenser, in such a way as to directly provide the logic unit with the information required to stop motor operation on reaching a pre-set value as the desired dose or weight. Alternatively, a single combined extractable cartridge is provided (100c), with both the functions (106, 140), as illustrated hereunder.

[0043] In principle, the weighing unit (140) is a compact and integrated device (Fig. 7) that incorporates, internally, an electronic load cell (152) of the high sensitivity type, which operates by flexure being attached at the front to said fork (117) for continuous real time reading of the weight of ground coffee dispensed to the portafilter (200). The weighing unit (140) is inserted frontally in a cantilevered configuration inside the machine body and, in correspondence with the fixings the casing, is equipped with interposed cushioning means (161) that effectively reduce the transmission of vibration, improving the precision and reliability of reaching,D'AGOSTINI with the motor running, also with greater safety and protection from impact and / or overloads (Figs. 4a, 4b, 7).

[0044] In greater detail, the weighing means are all enclosed and / or incorporated in the same weighing unit (140) which is a structurally compact element that is removable from the exterior, in the manner of a second horizontally inserted interchangeable cartridge (100b). The unit is mounted on the front of the machine body (126), in an insertion housing (113) located in the casing (108), under the front delivery spout (111); for this purpose, seat (113) is equipped with an insertion opening (114b) and fixing holes (115). The weighing unit (140) has a rigid loadbearing case (141) composed of a box section longitudinal element (142), which is inserted horizontally into the appliance (10b) through said insertion opening (114b), and of an anchoring head (143) which provides cantilevered support. To this end, said head (143) includes opposing lateral wings (144) that are structurally conjoined to said longitudinal element (142) or to a portion thereof, forming a monolithic element at least in correspondence of its frontal part that supports the load cell. Said wings are thus provided with fixing holes (145) corresponding to the holes in the insertion housing (113), to be fixed with screws (146) from the exterior (Figs. 3b, 5, 6).

[0045] The longitudinal element (142) of the weighing unit (140) includes at least: a load cell (152), an electronic circuit board to control it (153) and electric and / or electronic means (154) for connection to the appliance (10b, 106 110b). The load cell is facing the wings (144), with the front extremity (156) being free to flex vertically, while the opposite extremity (155) is fixed to said longitudinal element or to the part thereof that is structurally solidly connected to the wings, which are in turn fastened to the casing. In the head, centrally between the wings, there is a front openingD'AGOSTINI(147) that allows the front extremity (156) of the load cell to be joined to the fork (117) of an outer front panel (116) or cover; the fork is structurally connected to the load cell by means of an interposed bracket (158) that is screwed in place and is also conjoined to the front panel (Figs. 4a, 4b).

[0046] Said outer front panel (116) is therefore mobile, being fastened only at the front extremity of the cell (156, 158), to cover at the front (126) at least said anchoring head (143, 144, 145, 146, 147) (Figs. 4a, 4b). A rigid connecting bracket (158) is joined to said front extremity to fasten to it fork (117) and said outer front panel; it can therefore be mounted and removed from the front (126) with a single screw (119), together with the fork, having an aesthetic function and also protecting the parts behind it from the ground coffee and dirt of any origin. In greater construction detail, the front panel (116) is therefore a rigid front bulkhead, of the aesthetic cover type, being profiled on the front of the machine body (126) in front of the insertion housing (113), detached from the casing (108), secured at the rear to said front extremity (156) by means of connecting bracket (158) and conjoined at the front to the fork (117, 120) and to portafilter-holder element (118). The fork is therefore connected to the bracket with a through screw or with an equivalent rigid connecting means, in order to transmit the stresses directly to the load cell. In the preferential construction configuration of the invention, the front panel covers a front surface area that is greater than said seat (113), considering an ample margin of tolerance around it as a protective function and for aesthetic integration, extending upwards almost to the front delivery spout (111) (Fig. 4a).

[0047] The rigid load-bearing case (141) can be beneficially demountable, to contain the internal components in a removable manner, while respecting the aforementioned structural and supporting constraints of the load cell. In theD'AGOSTINI preferential configuration, the longitudinal element (142) is composed of a first loadbearing box-section element (148), open upwards in order to insert the load cell, positioned at the front being conjoined to the lateral wings (144, 145) in structural continuity, as a monolithic tee-shaped element. This element (148) is conjoined at the rear to a second box-section element (149), which it supports, composed of a lower half-case (149a) and an upper half-case (149b); this latter protrudes at the front (150) in correspondence with said first element (148) in order to close it from above. The half-casings (149a, 149b) are joined together and to said firs box-section element (148) in a removable manner, for example with interlocking mechanical fixings or clips (151) or equivalent removable fixings.

[0048] The first box-section element (148) is thus shaped in order to contain and fasten the load cell (152, 155), while the second box-section element (149) is shaped to accommodate at least the electronic circuit board (153) and integrate the connection means (154) which are beneficially facing to the exterior of the case, in the form of a quick fit connector, in order to easily insert or remove the wiring for electrical and / or electronic connection to the appliance (10b, 100b). The second box-section element (149) can be beneficially pre-assembled for application or removal, from the first box-section element (148, 151), as a replaceable add-on subassembly, in accordance with the so-called piggy-back logic adopted in the electronics industry.

[0049] Furthermore, provision is made for the aforementioned extractable cartridges (100a, 100b) to be cushioned, in such a way as to obtain a greater level of protection and isolation from impact and vibration. In principle, provision is made for isolation means (161), made of a resilient and / or elastic material, beneficially interposed in correspondence with all mechanical fixings of a cartridge; by way ofD'AGOSTINI example, cushioning can be provided by suitable rubber or silicone rings positioned on the screws for fixing to the casing and / or on the corresponding holes. A simplified solution of this type can be sufficient to cushion the extractable cartridge with logic unit (100a, 106); conversely, the extractable cartridge with weighing unit (100b, 140), which has extremely sensitive reading means (152, 153), is equipped with more complex and more effective isolators, as described below.

[0050] In greater detail, the weighing unit (140) is to be equipped with isolator means (161) mounted on the front of the machine body (126), interposed between said insertion housing (113) and said anchoring head (143), designed to provide cantilevered floating support of said longitudinal element (142), which is therefore not in contact with the machine body (107, 108), with the result that said weighing unit (140) is cushioned in a floating manner (Figs. 4a, 4b, 7). In greater construction detail, isolator means (161) are provided, composed of shock absorbing rings (162) interposed between the fixing holes of the wings (144, 145) and the screws (146) that fasten them in the seat, with a flanged centring bush (163) that compresses them uniformly; the rings (162) are preferably of dual diameter, with a central groove to straddle the rim of the hole (145), the opening of which is such as to facilitate mounting of the rings. The shock absorbing rings (162) are made of a resilient and / or elastic material, such as, for example: rubber or silicone or silicone- rubber or an equivalent resilient and / or elastic and / or elastoplastic polymer having hardness between 40 Shore and 80 Shore. To provide sufficient cushioning action, the isolator means have a minimum compressible thickness of 0.5 mm.

[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, there are additional isolator means mounted under the machine body, to prevent the transmission of impact and / or vibration originating from the appliance supporting surface. To this end, there areD'AGOSTINI installed shock absorbing elements in an analogous resilient and / or elastic material, integrated in correspondence with said support feet (122), in the form of shock absorbing feet. In practice, the weighing unit (140) is cushioned in a localised manner, in correspondence with the isolated fixing points (115, 161), which are preferably four opposing points arrange in a square pattern, being designed to counterbalance the loads in the manner of a floating structure (Figs. 4a, 4b, 7) which eliminates, or greatly limits, the transmission of vibration and / or impact originating from the internal motor and / or from the fork (117, 200), via the casing (108, 113). Furthermore, to obtain greater effectiveness of absorption and protection of the load cell and improved reading precision, also the transmission of vibration and / or impacts originating from the supporting surface can be limited, by means of the aforementioned shock absorbing supports in correspondence with the feet (122), thus creating a complete shock absorbing system.

[0052] In addition to the aforementioned isolator means, which provide shock absorbing and cushioning actions, for greater protection and safety of an extremely delicate sensor means, the weighing unit (140) and / or the outer front panel (116) include protective means to limit maximum flexure of the load cell (152), of the type with an adjustable stroke limiter or having a calibrated collapsible support. For example, of particular effectiveness is an adjustable travel limiter (164) constructed with a support foot combined with a reduced pitch screw, which engages directly on the lower surface of the cell (152) to limit downward flexure, in contact with the insertion housing.

[0053] It was then experimentally noted that the logic unit (106) and the weighing unit (140) contained in cartridges (100a, 100b) equipped with isolator means (161) in corresponding with the fixings, create structural uncoupling capable of significantlyD'AGOSTINI reducing the negative effects of motor vibration and of any impact that occurs when the portafilter is engaged with the fork (117, 200). The result is effective and enduring protection, with enhanced reading precision. The additional isolator means in the feet, and the protective means designed to limit maximum flexure of the load cell, make the weighing system even more secure and protected. Overall, said isolated cartridges, or cushioned as described above, mean the electronic control and / or reading means are more protected and also rapidly replaceable. Consequently, an improved grinding-dosing appliance is presented, particularly indicated for professional use, ensuring constant perfect operation, with reliable dispensing, and able to facilitate maintenance and updates with respect to conventional solutions from prior art. Indeed, these operations are often timeconsuming long and complex, requiring partial or total dismantling of the machine body; on the contrary, the proposed solution utilises compact cartridges that are easily removable from the exterior of the appliance.

[0054] The aforementioned extractable cartridges (100a, 100b) are entirety extractable from the exterior with the utmost rapidity and ease of execution. By way of example, consider the second cartridge with the entire weighing unit (100b, 140) inserted frontally into the casing (108, 113) according to the position and constraints of the load cell (152), which is structurally more complex. In practice, it is sufficient to unscrew an initial screw (119) from the exterior, in order to remove the outer front cover panel (116), and eventually a second through screw (120) where the fork is directly connected to the bracket; it is then sufficient to unscrew the four fixing screws (146, 161) of the weighing unit in order to remove it completely (Fig. 4b), disconnecting, during the extraction, the wiring connecting to the internal management circuit board (153) from its integrated quick connectors (154), whichD'AGOSTINI are located in the terminal part and / or on the base. The subsequent replacement of the weighing unit (140) is therefore performed using the same operations in reverse sequence, without dismantling the appliance and without individually replacing the components of the weighing system, as is necessary in conventional and known systems. The first cartridge with the logic unit (100a, 106), can be replaced with the same process even more rapidly, given the reduced number of fixings. Consequently, a regular operator is capable of independently removing and replacing said cartridges, also without the assistance of a specialised technician and without having to transfer the appliance to a specialised workshop, using only conventional and easily available tools to operate removable fixings from the exterior, such as screws, clips, click-fit tabs or levers or other equivalent fixing solutions designed to fasten the cartridge to the casing.

[0055] Furthermore, it is noted that the proposed solution to group the aforementioned electronic means together in extractable cartridge is extremely versatile and allows a large number of construction variants. Principally, it is beneficial to adopt this method to implement the appliance's centralised control, corresponding to said logic unit (106), and also an eventual peripheral function such as weighing (140), being respectively implemented with a first cartridge (100a) and a second cartridge (100b) individually dedicated to a specific function and interconnected as described above. Alternatively, it is beneficial to combine various functions in multifunction cartridges. It was noted, for example, that the appliance's logic unit (106) and eventual remote connection electronic means (130, 132) or control means of the load cell (153) are physically constituted by CPU type boards implemented in the same manner, even though of different dimensions and having different functions, which can be directly interconnected and incorporated orD'AGOSTINI coupled in the same cartridge, to remove and replace them jointly. A combined solution of this type makes it possible to implement the various functions in a single box-section case, with several interconnected boards inside, or by coupling multiple cases corresponding to single functions and single circuit boards (Figs. 3, 5, 6, 8, 9).

[0056] Merely by way of example, it is beneficial to implement a first cartridge (100a) on the rear side (127) including the logic unit (106) physically and electronically combined with an external connection system of the offline (130) or online (132) type (Fig. 3). For example, consider an accessory module with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth protocol or any compatible system, complete with antenna; a solution of this nature allows remote control of the appliance and also facilitates eventual external data processing with Internet of Things (IOT) type digitally interconnected systems. Alternatively, it is beneficial to implement a second front cartridge (100b) including the weighing unit (140) combined with an analogous remote connection system (130, 132). In this case, provision is made for an offline connection (130) (Figs. 5, 8) for direct connection to an espresso coffee machine, in conjunction with a motorised grind size adjustment system (125), in order to continually optimise the quality of the coffee served; alternatively, the connection can be online (132) (Fig. 6) in the beneficial case of a connection to the cloud via the Internet (133, 134). Additionally, it was noted that said weighing unit (140) can also be combined with the logic unit (106), for all the parts to be grouped in a single removable and multifunction combined cartridge (100c), which is necessarily mounted under the dispenser for the purpose of weighing with the proposed system. In this combination, the components (106, 140) can be integrated inside the same boxsection element or coupled one over the other, with modular piggy-back logic. Likewise, it is therefore possible to add further specific functions to the sameD'AGOSTINI combined cartridge (100c)7such as an online (132) or offline external connection, increasing the overall dimensions of the longitudinal element inserted in the casing (Fig- 9).

[0057] In summary, all the above matters considered, at least the following extractable cartridge variants and combinations are proposed in a coffee grindingdispensing appliance (10a, 10b): the appliance (10a) has at least one extractable cartridge (100a) or first cartridge that accommodates the logic unit (100a), which is inserted and fastened in the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, positioned for example on the rear side opposite the front dispenser unit or on the front side above it, as a compact and interchangeable control unit (Figs, la, lb, 2a, 2b); alternatively, the appliance (10a) has said first cartridge (100a) positioned on the front side (126), with the head conjoined to a display that is directly connected to the logic unit (106) but is facing the exterior to function as an integrated user interface, as a compact and interchangeable monitoring and control unit; alternatively, the appliance (10a) has said first cartridge including a direct communication unit of the offline type (130, 131), with specific logic for remote control of the appliance not via the Internet, as a compact and interchangeable offline control and communication unit (Fig. 3); alternatively, the appliance (10a) has said first cartridge including a direct communication unit of the online type (132, 133), with antenna and specific logic for remote control of the appliance via the Internet (133, 134), with transmission of telemetric and statistical operating data via the cloud, in theD'AGOSTINI form of a compact and interchangeable online control and communication unit; furthermore, the appliance (10b) also features an extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge that accommodates means for real-time weighing of the dispensed ground coffee, of the type having a load cell (152) linked to the fork (117), which (100b) is likewise inserted and fastened in the casing from the exterior in a removable manner, being mounted on the front (126) in an insertion housing (113 - 115) below the front delivery spout (111) where it is inserted in the manner of a drawer, in the form of a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140) (Figs. 4a, 4b, 7); alternatively, the appliance (10b) also features has said grind size motorised adjustment means (125) and has the second cartridge (100b) including a direct communication unit of the offline type (130, 131) that is connected to at least one espresso coffee machine (201) functionally combined with the appliance (10b) with specific logic for remote control of the appliance and of said adjustment (125) not via the Internet, as a compact and interchangeable weighing and offline communication unit for coffee machines (Fig. 5); alternatively, the appliance (10b) has said second cartridge (100b) including an indirect communication unit of the online type (132), with antenna and specific logic for a remote control of the appliance (10b) via the Internet (133, 134), with transmission of telemetric and statistical operating data via the cloud, in the form of a compact and interchangeable weighing and online communication unit (Fig. 6, 8);D'AGOSTINI alternatively, the appliance (10b) has said grind size motorised adjustment means (125) and has said second cartridge (100b) including an indirect communication unit of the online type (132) that is connected to said espresso coffee machine (201), with specific logic for remote control of said appliance (10b) and said adjustment (125) via the Internet (133, 134), as a compact and interchangeable weighing and online communication unit for coffee machines; alternatively, the appliance (10b) has said second cartridge (100b) which has the outer front panel (116) incorporating, on the side facing the interior, an antenna of the RFID type (136), with specific logic for automatic identification of a portafilter (200) paired with said antenna, as a compact and interchangeable weighing and RFID recognition unit (Fig. 10); alternatively, the proposed appliance has said logic unit (106) and said weighing unit (140) incorporated in a single combined extractable cartridge (100c) shaped and positioned analogously to said second cartridge; without said separate first cartridge, as a compact and interchangeable combined control and weighing unit (Fig. 9); alternatively, the appliance (10) has said removable and multifunction cartridge (100c, 110, 140) that incorporates at least one of said offline and / or online communication units, with specific logic for a remote control, as a compact and interchangeable combined control, weighing, and communication unit.Legend(10a, 10b) coffee grinding-dosing appliance with logic unit in an extractable cartridge, as provided for by this invention. The appliance has a first extractableD'AGOSTINI cartridge (10a) with the logic unit and / or a second extractable cartridge (10b) inclusive of a weighing unit and eventual further electronic means;(100a) extractable cartridge or first cartridge, with logic unit;(100b) extractable cartridge or second cartridge, with weighing unit;(100c) combined extractable cartridge, with weighing unit combined with logic unit;(101) longitudinal element, of the first cartridge;(102) head, of the first cartridge;(103) electric and / or electronic connection means, integrated connector of first cartridge;(104a, 104b) longitudinal element half-case, respectively lower and upper;(105) mechanical fixing, removable;(106) logic unit, electronic control means of the appliance;(107) machine body, with motor and grinding means;(108) casing;(109) grind size adjustment ring;(110) dispenser unit;(111) dispenser unit front delivery spout;(112) user interface display;(113) shaped insertion housing, for extractable cartridge;(114a, 114b) cartridge insertion opening, respectively for a first and a second extractable cartridge;(115) fixing hole, for extractable cartridge;(116) exterior front panel, front bulkhead for fork support and cover;(117) centring fork and support, for one portafilter;(118) portafilter holder element;D'AGOSTINI(119) front panel exterior fixing screw;(120) fork fixing screw;(121) ON / OFF knob;(122) support foot;(123) hopper for roasted coffee beans, e.g. of conical geometry;(124) electric plug;(125) motorised grind size adjustment means;(126) appliance front side;(127) appliance rear side;(128) ventilation slits;(129) quick release means for extractable grinding chamber;(130) offline communication unit, for remote control not via the Internet;(131) offline connection;(132) online communication unit, for remote control via the Internet;(133) online connection;(134) Internet with cloud services;(135) integrated connector, accessible from the exterior;(136) RFID recognition unit;(140) compact weighing unit, extractable and cushioned, mounted on the front;(141) weighing unit demountable rigid load-bearing case;(142) weighing unit longitudinal element;(143) weighing unit anchoring head;(144) perforated lateral wings, of weighing unit anchoring head;(145) fixing hole, in said wings;(146) fixing screw, of weighing unit anchoring head;D'AGOSTINI(147) front opening, for load cell - fork connection;(148) first box section element, load bearing, with tee structure;(149) second box section element, supported, pre-assembled, composed of a lower half-case (149a) and an upper half-case (149b);(150) upper closing protrusion, incorporated in the upper half-case;(151) mechanical fixing, removable, of male-female interlocking type or clip or an equivalent system;(152) load cell:(153) load cell management electronic circuit board;(154) electric and / or electronic connection means, second cartridge integrated connector;(155) rear extremity of the load cell, fixed;(156) front extremity of the load cell, free to flex in a vertical direction;(157) load cell fixing screw;(158) connecting bracket;(159) bracket fixing screw;(160) plate;(161) anti vibration isolator means;(162) shock absorbing ring, on the hole;(163) flanged centring bush, compressing the shock absorbing ring;(164) adjustable travel limited, for load cell protection;(200) portafilter, for espresso coffee machine;(201) espresso coffee machine.

Claims

D'AGOSTINICLAIMS1. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) for coffee beans, including:A machine body (107) inclusive of a load bearing casing (108) accommodating a grinding chamber with a gravity feed beans inlet opening and a ground coffee outlet opening, mounted on support feet (122); a coffee beans hopper (123), mounted on casing (108) in correspondence with said beans inlet opening; means for rotary grinding of the coffee beans in the grinding chamber, with grinding burrs coupled to an adjustment ring (109); means to drive said grinding burrs, with an electric motor mounted internally to the casing and solidly connected thereto; means to dispense the ground coffee, with a front dispenser (110) connected to said outlet opening and equipped with a delivery spout (111); means to secure a ground coffee collection container below the front delivery spout, with a centring and support fork (117) for an espresso coffee portafilter (200); electronic monitoring and control means, with a logic unit (106) internal to the machine body (107, 108) being composed of a CPU electronic circuit board complete with hardware and software, including a processor, management programs, memories and connectors (103) for power input and data transfer, being said logic unit (106) connected to a user interface display (112);D'AGOSTINI said grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b), characterised by the fact that it has at least one extractable cartridge (100a, 100c) that incorporates said logic unit (106).

2. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said logic unit (106) is accommodated in an extractable cartridge (100a) or first cartridge, which is inserted and secured in the casing (108) from the exterior in a removable manner, as a compact and interchangeable control unit; said extractable cartridge (100a, 106) composed of at least one rigid box-section longitudinal element (101) inserted into the body (108) by way of an insertion opening (114a), and of a locking head (102) facing the exterior of said casing; said longitudinal element (101) having at least said logic unit (106) fully incorporated and protected internally and having said connectors (103) integrated into its (101) outer surface.

3. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a) according to claims 1 and 2, characterised by the fact that said insertion opening (114a) is located laterally in the casing (108), wherein said removable cartridge (100a) is inserted horizontally in the manner of a drawer.

4. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a) according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said insertion opening (114a) is on the rear face (127) opposite said front dispenser unit (110).

5. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a) according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said insertion opening (114a) is on the front (126), above said dispenser unit (110), with said extractable cartridge (100a) having head (102) joined to said display (112) which is directly connected to said logic unit (106) in its interior but is facing the exterior, as a compact and interchangeable monitoring and control unit.

6. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a) according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterised by the fact that said extractable cartridge (100a) is secured by meansD'AGOSTINI of mechanical fixings removable from the exterior, which fasten at least one portion of said head (102) and / or said longitudinal element (101) to the casing (108); and where in correspondence with said removable mechanical fixings there are interposed isolation means made of resilient and / or elastic material.

7. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to claim 1 or 1, characterised by the fact that it also possesses means for real time weighing of the ground and dispensed coffee, of the type with a load cell (152) located inside the casing (108) and linked to the fork (117), said means being accommodated in an extractable cartridge (100b) or second cartridge, which is inserted and removably fixed in the casing (108) from the exterior, as a compact and interchangeable weighing unit (140); said weighing unit (140) being mounted on the front (126) of the machine body in an insertion housing (113) in the casing (108), in a position below the front delivery spout (111), and equipped with an insertion opening (114b) and fixing holes (115), in which it is inserted horizontally in the manner of a drawer; said weighing unit (140) having a rigid load bearing case (141) composed of a box-section longitudinal element (142) which is inserted horizontally into the casing by way of said insertion opening (114b), and by an anchoring head (143) which provides it with cantilever support (142) having lateral wings (144) that are joined to it and having fixing holes (145) corresponding to the holes in the insertion housing (114b), for fixing from the exterior with screws (146).

8. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said longitudinal element (142) of the weighing unit (140) incorporates at least: the load cell (152), its management electronic circuit board (153) and means of electrical and / or electronic connection (154) to said logic unit (106), wherein said cell has its front end (156) free to flex vertically, while theD'AGOSTINI opposite end (155) is fastened to said longitudinal element (141, 160); and where said anchoring head (143) has a front opening (147) between said wings (144) corresponding with the front end (156) of the load cell in order to link this end to the fork (117) of an external front panel (116).

9. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that it features isolation means (161) mounted on the front of the appliance casing (126), interposed between said insertion housing (113) and said anchoring head (143) to provide cantilever and floating support of said longitudinal element (142) producing a damping effect in relation to said weighting unit (140); said isolation means (161) incorporating shock absorbing rings (162) in a resilient and / or elastic material interposed between said fixing holes of the wings (144, 145) and said screws (146), with a flanged centring bush (163) that compresses said shock absorbing rings.

10. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) according one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said extractable cartridge (100a, 106) or first cartridge incorporates an offline type direct communication unit (130), with specific logic for remote control of the appliance (10a, 10b) not via the Internet, as a compact and interchangeable offline control and communication unit.

11. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) according one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said extractable cartridge (100a, 106) incorporates an online type direct communication unit (132), with antenna and specific logic for remote control of the appliance (10a, 10b) via the Internet, with transmission of telemetric and statistical operating data via the cloud, as a compact and interchangeable online control and communication unit.D'AGOSTINI12. A grinding-dosing appliance (10a, 10b) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said data and statistics include coffee consumption figures.

13. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised by the fact that it is equipped with motorised means for adjustment of grind size (125) and an offline type direct communication unit (130) connected to at least one espresso coffee machine (201) functionally paired with the appliance (10a, 10b); and wherein said extractable cartridge (100b, 140) or second cartridge incorporates said communication unit (130), with specific logic for remote control of said appliance (10b) and said adjustment (125) not via the Internet, as a compact and interchangeable offline weighing and communication unit for coffee machines.

14. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised by the fact that said extractable cartridge (100b, 140) or second cartridge incorporates an online type indirect communication unit (132), with antenna and specific logic for remote control of the appliance (10b) via the Internet, sending telemetric and statistical operating data via the cloud, as a compact and interchangeable online weighing and communication unit.

15. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that it is equipped with motorised means for adjustment of grind size (125) and has said online type direct communication unit (132) connected to at least one espresso coffee machine (201) functionally paired with the appliance (10b), with specific logic for remote control of said appliance and said adjustment (125), via the Internet, as a compact and interchangeable online weighing and communication unit for coffee machines.D'AGOSTINI16. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised by the fact that said external front panel (116) with fork (117) incorporates, on the side facing the interior, an RFID type antenna (136), with specific logic for automatic recognition of a portafilter paired with said antenna.

17. A grinding-dosing appliance (10b) according to claims 1, 2, 7 and 8, characterised by the fact that said logic unit (106) and said weighing unit (140) are incorporated in a single combined (106, 140) extractable cartridge (10b), shaped and positioned frontally in the form of said second cartridge (100b, 114b) as a compact and interchangeable control and weighing unit.

18. A grinding-dosing appliance (10) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said combined (106, 140) extractable cartridge (100c) includes at least one communication unit (130, 132) with specific logic for remote control.

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